Abdul Rahman bin Abbas (born 15 April 1938) is a Malaysian

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

and

teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

who had served as the 7th

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...

from 1 May 2001 to 30 April 2021. He is a former politician from the

United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation (Abbreviation, abbrev: UMNO; , PEKEMBAR) is a Conservatism, conservative, Nationalism, Malay nationalist political party in Malaysia. As the oldest national political party in the country (since its ince ...

(UMNO). Abdul Rahman was first appointed to the governorship by the

Yang di-Pertuan Agong The King of Malaysia, officially ''Yang di-Pertuan Agong'' ( Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ), is the constitutional monarch and Figurehead, ceremonial head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957, when the Federation of Malaya gained ...

in May 2001 and was reappointed six times, in 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 for a total of 20 years, thus becoming the longest-serving governor in Malaysian history.

Early life, education and early career

Tun Abdul Rahman studied at Permatang Sintok Malay School in Kepala Batas and Sultan Idris Teachers College in Tanjong Malim before attending a teaching course at the Language Institute,

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...

. He obtained his

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

from the

University of Malaya The Universiti Malaya (lit 'University of Malaya'; abbreviated UM) is a public university, public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the oldest Malaysian institution of higher education, and was the only university in ...

in 1973. After graduating, Abdul Rahman became a teacher.

Political career

Abdul Rahman joined UMNO after ending his career in teaching. He was an Exco member of the party's UMNO Youth wing (1975–1979) and held the position of Kepala Batas Division Treasurer from 1995 to his appointment as Governor. In 1977, Abdul Rahman was elected to the Penang State Assembly in a by-election following the death of , the father of former

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi (, ; 26 November 1939 – 14 April 2025), also known as Pak Lah, was a Malaysian politician and civil servant who served as the fifth prime minister of Malaysia from 2003 to 2009. A member of UMNO, he was the party's ...

. During the four terms he served, Abdul Rahman was also a member of the state executive council under

Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union ter ...

Lim Chong Eu Lim Chong Eu (; 28 May 1919 – 24 November 2010) was a Malaysian politician who served as the 2nd Chief Minister of Penang from May 1969 to October 1990 and the longest serving Chief Minister of Penang. He was also the founding president of ...

. In his final term, he was elected Speaker of the State Assembly.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang (2001–2021)

Abdul Rahman was appointed

Yang di-Pertua Negeri In Malaysia, the Governor, officially Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Jawi script, Jawi: , ) is a constitutional title given to the head of state in States and federal territories of Malaysia, states without a ruler, namely: Penang, Malacca, Sabah and S ...

of Penang by the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong,

Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj ( Jawi: ; 8 March 1926 – 21 November 2001) was the Sultan of Selangor from 1960, and the eleventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) from 1999, un ...

in May 2001 for four years. In 2005, his term was extended for another four years by

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail (Jawi script, Jawi: توانكو سيد سراج الدين ابن المرحوم توانكو سيد ڤوترا جمل الليل; born 17 May 1943) is the current Raja of Pe ...

. He was reappointed again by Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin in 2009 and 2011, by Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah in 2013 and 2015, and lastly by

Sultan Muhammad V Muhammad V (Jawi script, Jawi: ; born 6 October 1969) has been the 29th Sultan of Kelantan since ascending to the throne in 2010. He previously reigned as the King of Malaysia from 2016 until his abdication in 2019. He was proclaimed Sultan o ...

in 2017 for another four years.

Honours & titles of Abdul Rahman Abbas

He has been awarded :List of Malay rulers
with orders details

Titles

He holds currently the title of "''Tun Dato' Seri Utama''" by combination of his highest Federal Malaysian title "''Tun''" (SMN) and his highest Penang title "''Dato' Seri Utama''" (DUPN).
In other states of Malaysia, a similar combination between his highest Federal Malaysian title "''Tun''" (SMN) and his local highest title may be used. Example : ''Tun Datuk Seri Panglima'' in Sabah.

Honours of Penang

* As 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang (since 1 May 2001) ** Order of the Defender of State : *** MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Member - DJN

Member (DJN) *** MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Companion - DMPN

Companion (DMPN) – Dato' *** MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Knight Grand Commander - DUPN

Knight Grand Commander (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama *** MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Knight Grand Commander - DUPN

Grand Master

Honours of Malaysia

* : ** Grand Commander of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace of God-Defender of the Realm). The o ...

(SMN) – Tun (2001) * : ** MY-FED Darjah Mahkota Wilayah - Grand Knight - SUMW

Grand Knight of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SUMW) – Datuk Seri Utama (2021) * : ** Member of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa (DMK) – Dato' Seri Utama (2007) * : ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK

Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima * : ** Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DP) – Datuk Patinggi

Honours & titles of Majimor binti Shariff

Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Dato' Seri Utama Hajah Majimor binti Shariff has been awarded :List of Malay consorts of rulers
with details of orders

Titles

She holds currently the title of "''Toh Puan Dato' Seri Utama''" by combination of the female form "Toh Puan" connected to her husband's highest Federal Malaysian title "''Tun''" (SMN) and her highest Penang title "''Dato' Seri Utama''" (DUPN)

Honours of Penang

* As wife of the 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang (since 1 May 2001) : ** MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Knight Grand Commander - DUPN

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DUPN) with title ''Dato’ Seri Utama''

References

Citations

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Abdul Rahman Abbas Malaysian people of Malay descent 1938 births Living people Malaysian politicians of Malay descent Malaysian Muslims United Malays National Organisation politicians Members of the Penang State Legislative Assembly Penang state executive councillors Speakers of the Penang State Legislative Assembly Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang Malaysian schoolteachers University of Malaya alumni Grand Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Members of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak